Live Review: Ceres, Initials, Have/Hold, Regrets, Employment - Bar 303

Tonight's 'emotional punx winter warmer' bill boasts some of Melbourne's best new bands at a great small pub. Employment kick things off, the trio's '90s emo-inspired mix of fuzzy riffs and noodly guitar lines set the tone for the rest of the night and get things off to a great start. Next are Regrets, a newer band boasting a ridiculous pedigree – members have played in A Death In The Family, The Hawaiian Islands, Ribbons Patterns, Urns, Anchors and more. Their songs sound dark, full of tense moments and squalls of noise.

Have/Hold are on next. Their alt-rock (for want of a better word) serves to break up the grittier sound of the previous and following acts. Luke Shields' versatile vocals add an interesting dimension to their music. This set tonight shows that they're at their best in a live setting. Initials, the third of this evening's trios, take the stage now. Their raspy yet melodic post-hardcore is reminiscent of Hot Water Music, however their quality songwriting and excellent instrumentation marks them out as incredibly unique.

“I'm sorry everyone, thanks for coming. I promise we're a good band on record,” Ceres singer Tom Lanyon jokingly announces near the end of his band's set. Ceres haven't played a show in a while and are a bit of a shambles at times, but it's the fun sort of shambles that makes a good show great. They run through the highlights of their recently released debut album, I Don't Want To Be Anywhere But Here, and some of their older songs, showcasing their passionate mix of pop-punk and classic emo. Burnley and I Feel Fine, I Feel Sick are the standouts, with people throwing arms around each others' shoulders to belt out choruses. Lanyon repeatedly mentions that the small stage has him hitting lead guitarist Rhys Vleugel's mic stand. However, Syllables shows that that's the least of his problems as he accidentally pulls out Vleugel's guitar lead right at the solo. They laugh about it afterwards and decide that it's as good a sign as any to wrap things up. Album opener Jam Song is an interesting choice but works well as a set closer, ending with Lanyon throwing his guitar at the people in the front. He asks for it back and obliges the cries for an encore with Luck, which ends the night on a quieter, subdued note.